Saturday, January 30, 2010

ReadWriteWeb Events Guide, 30 January 2010

There are 15 events in five countries and on three continents in February. Lucky for you, four of them have discounts for ReadWriteWeb readers. Conferences, roundtables, and if you're in San Francisco, free tacos from the famous El Toynaense Taco Truck - it's gonna be a busy month.



How do you like your ReadWriteWeb events guide? As a world map? As a downloadable iCal (and Google Calendar-importable) file? You can even import individual events using the link beside each entry. Know of something cool taking place that should appear here? Let us know in the comments below or contact us.


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February 2010: Online



Startup Strategy Roundtable



events_roundtable.jpgSramana Mitra - entrepreneur, author, and Forbes columnist - holds a free weekly strategy roundtable on positioning, financing, and other aspects of a startup venture. During the 60-minute session, five entrepreneurs pitch Mitra their business ideas. She reviews the material in real-time, provides feedback, and takes questions about positioning from other participants. Up to 1,000 people can attend each session, but only the first five who register to pitch will be able to present. All attendees are able to join in on the conversations via a live chat. Dates: Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25. Register here.









1 – 5, February 2010: New York City, Berlin, London, San Francisco, Toronto, São Paulo



Social Media Week



The second annual Social Media Week conference will explore the profound impact that social media has on culture, business communications and society at large.



The conference is designed as a series of localized events, which city partners are responsible for organizing. Programs will span a variety of formats, ranging from talks and panel discussions, to interactive workshops, seminars and networking events. Registration will open in January 2010 and the majority of events will be free thanks to the global sponsors and event partners.



You can find more information at http://socialmediaweekny.com.









3 February 2010: San Francisco, California



SF New Tech



events_sfnewtech.jpgSF New Tech is the Bay Area's largest and longest running monthly tech event. In celebration of Social Media Week, on February 3rd, you're invited to come on down to see and hear live demos from the executives behind Superfeedr, Bonvoy, Soundtrckr, LikeMinds, Amadesa, TalentHouse and more. Doors - and the bar - open at 5:30 p.m., and per usual, the famous El Toynaense Taco Truck will be parked outside dishing out free tacos. Demos begin at 7:30pm. Register here.









4 February 2010: San Francisco, California



Vator Splash



Vator.tv, a leading platform for innovators and entrepreneurs to broadcast themselves, is holding its inaugural Vator Splash event on February 4, 2010 at the Cafe du Nord in San Francisco. Catch onstage presenters: Zynga CEO Mark Pincus, Smule CEO Jeff Smith, August Capital VC Howard Hartenbaum and Google Ventures VC Bill Maris. Ten promising startups will also get to present onstage. Enter the Vator Splash competition if you want to present.



ReadWriteWeb readers get a 25% discount on their tickets using the code VatorReadWriteWeb.









8 February 2010: Tampa, Florida



Social Fresh Tampa



This is the social media conference that comes to you. Social Fresh is a one-day, case-study-rich conference targeted for marketers. Social Fresh Tampa will have 30+ speakers, including Chris Barger of GM, Maggie Fox of Social Media Group and John Andrews of Collective Bias (formerly of Walmart).



ReadWriteWeb readers get a 15% discount with the code "RWW15".









10 February 2010: New York City



Online Community Unconference East



events_unconf_0210.jpgThe Online Community Unconference East is a gathering of online community professionals - managers, developers, business people, tool providers, investors - to discuss experience and strategies in the development and growth of online communities. As we have found with our past events, the best source of information on all of these challenges is other knowledgeable practitioners. The event runs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Digital Sandbox.









11 February 2010: New York City



NYC Venture Capital and Angel Showcase



FundingPost is hosting a VC showcase where 20-plus VC funds and angel groups will be exhibiting their firms during a great cocktail party setting. Each fund will have their own table setup for the sole purpose of meeting great new companies.



Additionally, there will be an optional pitching workshop from 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The cost to participate in the workshop will be $400. This workshop includes the $125 ticket to the event, and a 1/4 page listing in the Venture Guide Magazine. This event is sponsored by Credit Suisse, and takes place at One Madison Avenue, from 6-9:15 p.m.









18 February 2010: Silicon Valley, California



Future of Funding



Active limited partners, top rated venture capitalists, and successful entrepreneurs are invited to Silicon Valley on February 18, 2010 to discuss the Future of Funding. The venture capital bubble has burst, and change is coming. Now is the time to have a constructive dialog about the future with all of the stakeholders at the table.



Don't miss the opportunity to partake in this exclusive event hosted by TheFunded. Please visit www.futureoffunding.com to see speaker and event details.



ReadWriteWeb readers use the code "RWW" and get 10% off.









22 – 24 February 2010: Miami, Florida



The Future of Web Apps Miami



events_fowa_miami.jpgThe Future of Web Apps Miami is a three day event for Web application developers and entrepreneurs, and includes tutorials, inspiration and workshops taught by leading figures at the cutting edge of today's Web. Companies at the event include Twitter, Facebook, Mint.com, Palm, FreshBooks, Reddit and Mozilla. Topics include HTML5, jQuery, online marketing, funding strategies, measuring the success of your Web app, and Facebook Connect. Find more information at http://carsonified.com



ReadWriteWeb readers use the code "RWW" and get $50 off.









25 February 2010: Miami, Florida



Miami VC and Angel Event



At FundingPost's next event, a panel of investors who will focus on early-stage venture investing. We will be discussing trends in early-stage investing, sectors that these Angels and VCs look at, things that are most important to them when they are considering an investment and the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get their attention. Entrepreneur summaries will be given to the investor speakers and attendees - all of the investors will get your company description and contact info!



Additionally, there will be an optional pitching workshop lunch where we will completely deconstruct your elevator pitch, and work with you on formulating a clean and concise elevator pitch giving the important information that investors need to hear to make an educated decision on your company! Then you get to give your new elevator pitch in person to the panel of investors during the event! Click here for more information.









4 March 2010: Silicon Valley



Silicon Valley VC and Angel Conference



At FundingPost's next event, a panel of investors who will focus on early-stage venture investing. We will be discussing trends in early-stage investing, sectors that these Angels and VCs look at, things that are most important to them when they are considering an investment and the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get their attention. Entrepreneur summaries will be given to the investor speakers and attendees - all of the investors will get your company description and contact info!



Additionally, there will be an optional pitching workshop lunch where we will completely deconstruct your elevator pitch, and work with you on formulating a clean and concise elevator pitch giving the important information that investors need to hear to make an educated decision on your company! Then you get to give your new elevator pitch in person to the panel of investors during the event! Click here for more information.









11 March 2010: Los Angeles, California



Los Angeles VC and Angel Event



At FundingPost's next event, a panel of investors who will focus on early-stage venture investing. We will be discussing trends in early-stage investing, sectors that these Angels and VCs look at, things that are most important to them when they are considering an investment and the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get their attention. Entrepreneur summaries will be given to the investor speakers and attendees - all of the investors will get your company description and contact info!



Additionally, there will be an optional pitching workshop lunch where we will completely deconstruct your elevator pitch, and work with you on formulating a clean and concise elevator pitch giving the important information that investors need to hear to make an educated decision on your company! Then you get to give your new elevator pitch in person to the panel of investors during the event! Click here for more information.









15 – 16 March 2010: London, England



2nd Annual Social Networking World Forum — London



The 2nd Annual Social Networking World Forum takes place at the Olympia Conference Centre in London. The two-day event features four dedicated conference streams:



  1. Social Networking World Forum

  2. Enterprise social media

  3. Social TV World Forum

  4. Mobile Social Networking Forum


The event features key speakers from global brands, organizations, social networking publishers and developers, pioneering social media leaders, top agencies, content producers, and more.



  • Full workshop program within exhibition area

  • Evening networking reception

  • Pre-show online meeting planner for delegates

  • Free pass for exhibition only








7 – 9 April 2010: Sydney, Australia



ConnectNow



events_connectnow_0110.jpgConnectNow brings together international specialists and thought leaders in social media, emerging technologies and their intersection with business. Learn how the realtime web, location based services, augmented reality, ubiquitous computing and personalised services are changing marketing and communications. Understand the importance of trust in relationship marketing and what is "social currency". For more info email info@connectnow.net.au.









16 April 2010: Mountain View, California



Under the Radar: Cloud



events_undertheradar_0410.jpgUnder the Radar: Cloud is must-attend event for dealmakers and heads of IT from large enterprises, SMBs, service providers, carriers and media companies who are responsible for helping their companies leverage new technology and innovation in the fast-evolving IT ecosystem. Join us for the 15th Under the Radar conference, featuring a hand-picked selection of the world's most innovative cloud startups among 350 top tech, media, telcom and finance executives. For ticket and more information, visit http://undertheradarblog.com.









16 – 17 April 2010: Royal Oak, Michigan



FutureMidwest



events_futuremidwest.jpgFutureMidwest is the region's largest technology and knowledge conference. Founded by Adrian Pittman, Jordan Wolfe and Zach Lipson, FutureMidwest is the fusion of two successful conferences held in Michigan in 2009 - the Module Midwest Digital Conference and TechNow.



Both conferences highlighted how technology and digital tools have dramatically changed the way we do business and the effect this transition has had on companies. FutureMidwest kicks things up a notch with presentations, group breakout sessions, relationship-building opportunities and influencers who are taking action to redefine business in the digital age. Register here.









11 May 2010: San Francisco, California



FinovateSpring



events_finspring_0510.jpgFinovateSpring 2010 will again showcase the most cutting-edge financial and banking technology innovations to Silicon Valley and the world. With Finovate's signature mix of short, fast-paced onstage demos (no slides are allowed) from handpicked companies and intimate networking time with their executives, this conference packs a ton of unique value into a single day.



Come see the cutting edge of banking and financial technology and network with hundreds of the leading financial executives, venture capitalists, press, industry analysts, bloggers and fintech entrepreneurs. Early bird registration rates are available.









5 October 2010: New York City



FinovateFall



events_finfall_1010.jpgFinovateFall will return to Manhattan on Tuesday, October 5 to showcase dozens of the biggest and most innovative new ideas in financial and banking technology from established leaders and hot young companies. The Fall event is the original and largest Finovate and features a single day packed with our special blend of short, fast-paced onstage demos (no slides are allowed) and intimate networking time with top executives from the innovative demoing companies.



FinovateFall is a unique chance to see the future of finance and banking before your competition and find the edge you need in today's market. Early bird registration rates are available.









Download this entire events calendar in iCal format.


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Open Thread: What's Your Favorite Tech Nonprofit/Philanthropic Company?

A while ago, I wrote a rather condemning post on how most "social media for social good" efforts were heavy on social media activities but came up short on actual social good.



Still, there are organizations such as Kiva, The Extraordinaires or SocialVibe and many others that do turn user microactions and technology to affect change and do good in very tangible ways. Those are just three of the tech nonprofit or philanthropic organizations I can think of at the moment, but we at RWW would love to know more. Tell us in the comment what your favorite tech nonprofit is and why.


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As most of you already will know, Kiva is an organization that allows users such as you and I to make microloans to folks in developing countries. For example, I could loan $100 to a woman in the Philippines to help her buy supplies and livestock to start pig farming, increasing her own quality of life and improving the local economy around her. Trickle Up is another similar microlending organization.



SocialVibe is a company that helps brands and users create positive social change. In a typical SocialVibe setup, a brand "sponsors" users, who take small actions and engagements to raise money for the charity of their choice. In some ways, it's kind of like a broader-in-scope version of The Hunger Site, which gets advertisers to shell out cash to feed hungry people when users click around the site.



And The Extraordinaires is a program we just recently discovered while finding out how to help our readers use their personal time and online actions to help folks in Haiti. This site allows organizations to create missions. Users can complete micro-tasks from their mobile devices or computers toward those missions. Currently, the site has around 50 participating organizations and about 6,000 members who have completed in excess of 35,000 micro-tasks. Missions range from mapping safe places for children to play to helping first-aid responders reduce fatalities.



But there are many ways tech can be used to help others, not just the social media-focused, crowdsources companies we've mentioned here. For example, Inveneo helps to give access to information and communications technologies, including phones, computers and Internet access, to people in remote parts of developing countries. And there are many organizations focusing on getting tech hardware into the hands of those who need it, including students and injured veterans.



We'd love to know more about similar projects and organizations, whether large or small, new or longstanding. In this open thread of comments, please tell us your favorite nonprofit or philanthropic tech organization and let us know what they do. And please spread the good word and invite others to share, as well!


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